When Should Corporations Take a Stand on High-Profile Social Issues?
By Tony Jaques, writing for Managing Outcomes… The likely overthrow of Roe v Wade to limit access to abortion in the United States has highlighted whether and when business corporations should take a stand on controversial social issues. Denim company Levi Strauss was one of the first major companies to weigh in on this debate, […]
Jif Stuck in a Recall Jam Demonstrates a Teachable Moment
Introduction by Howard Fencl, Hennes Communications… It’s not even a guilty pleasure. I have unapologetically devoured ton upon ton of JIF peanut butter in my lifetime. And I’ll continue doing so. Not to denigrate Skippy or Peter Pan or the grocery store’s pricey boutique nut butter offerings, but I’ve been a Jif guy for a […]
The Roe Dilemma
From our friends at Delve… Amidst the uproar over the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson that could determine the fate of Roe v. Wade, companies face pressure from competing stakeholders to take a public stand. Whatever position they take—or even if they stay silent—is bound to alienate one or even […]
Leadership in Times of Crisis
From Chelsey Keith P. Ignacio, writing for Business World… The true test of leadership, as they say, is adversity. When everything goes according to plan, or when profits come and grow and employees feel content in the company, playing the role of a leader may seem to run smoothly. However, when a significant crisis happened […]
Opinion: The Tricky Politics of Anti-ESG Investing
Introduction by Thomas Fladung, Hennes Communications… In an era of unprecedented corporate involvement in sensitive, frequently controversial, social issues, a recent survey of American consumers provides some guidance. The takeaway is not that companies should avoid taking any positions on such issues but that they should choose their battles carefully and, crucially, pay more than […]
Why Should Your School Reach Out To a Crisis Communications Firm?
By Stephanie York, JD, Hennes Communications Quick – What’s the single highest priority for a superintendent, head of school or board president? It’s not education. It’s safety. And just one part of that safety net is making sure you have a pre-written crisis communications plan at your fingertips – or at least the phone number […]
Florida School Board Association Partners with Hennes Communications to Provide Issues Management Crisis Management & Communications Services to Members
There are scores of reasons why your district can be thrust into the news. Lawsuit…sports controversy…social media threats…active shooter… board-superintendent clash…criminal accusation…discrimination complaints…diversity issues…FERPA or HIPAA violation…fiscal mismanagement…protest… sexual misconduct…student newspaper story…challenging conversations… testing controversy…union grievance/strike… Suddenly, there’s a TV crew in the parking lot, your local newspaper is on Line One and the situation […]
Corporate America Doesn’t Want to Talk Abortion, but It May Have To
Business leaders, who have increasingly waded into social issues like racial equity and voting rights, now face whether to comment on abortion. A recent New York Times story talks to corporate executives, business professors and others about that decision and provides examples of what some businesses are choosing to say. From Emma Goldberg, Alisha Haridasani […]
Corporate Social and Political Engagement: An Introduction
From Alexandra Reed Lajoux, writing for Directors&Boards… Corporations have the right to free speech. Should they exercise that right? Should corporations take public stances on social issues? Should they make contributions to political action committees or political parties? Under what circumstances do such actions create issues for corporations and their boards? These questions are timely […]
7 Tips for Organizational Resilience All Year Round
From Mitch Mitchell, writing for Security Magazine… History has taught security teams that crisis situations can happen at any time and more frequently than anyone can anticipate. However, when a crisis does occur, organizations find themselves in a situation where survival is the main focus — the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic being […]